The best arches in France

Arc de Triomphe, Paris

The famous arch stands at the center of the world’s largest traffic roundabout at Champs Elysees. It is one of the most well-known monuments in Paris and in the world. The arch was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his victories, but he was ousted before the arch was completed. It wasn’t completed until 1836 during the reign of Louis-Philippe. The Arc de Triomphe is engraved with names of generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon’s regime.

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Porte de Bourgogne, Bordeaux

It is located at the former entrance of the road from Paris to the town of Bordeaux. The arch was dedicated to the Duke of Burgundy. There are two other historic gates in Bordeaux: Porte de l’Aquitaine and Porte Dijeaux (formerly Porte Dauphine).

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Porte de Paris, Lille

The triumphal arch is the most impressive gate in Lille. It was built between 1685 and 1692 in honor of Louis XIV who had recently annexed the city. The original ramparts were dismantled in 1858 to reveal the circular gate surrounded by a moat garden.

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Porte d’Aix, Marseille

The triumphal arch of Porte d’Aix (former Porte Royale) in Marseille marked the old entry point to the city on the road from Aix-en-Provence. It was initially planned to honor Louis XIV in 1784. At completion in 1839, the monument commemorated the French victories in the Spanish Expedition.

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Arc de Triomphe, Sizun

This is a fine example of Breton Renaissance. Built between 1585 and 1588, it was listed as a historical monument by the French State in 1884. In 1989, an exact copy of the arch was raised in the Tuileries Garden in Paris for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris

Next to the Louvre, the Arc du Carrousel was built by Napoleon from 1807 to 1808 to celebrate the victory of the French imperial army in Austerlitz. The triumphal arch was designed on the model of the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine, both found in Rome.